Chapter 86: Fate Convergence - XI

Aventine’s senses dove past Taylor’s surface thoughts and lingered deep within his psyche.

’Even here, <Fate’s> threads exist, huh?’

Somehow, that was scarier than simply being physically bound by its machinations. It meant that even one’s own free will wasn’t truly... free. Everything about oneself, be it their personality, looks, and philosophies, would have been dictated by a predetermined force.

However, it made sense.

After all, how could <Fate> have manipulated the whims of those who had been targeting his Mage Tower?

If <Fate> had no way to influence the inclinations of those it had entangled, was it truly the world’s grand designer?

For a moment, Aventine paused and observed his own subconscious mind. Seeing that he was clean of any wispy threads, he sighed in relief.

"That’s good."

It was truly, truly relieving...

Because Aventine arrived at the area of Taylor’s consciousness where the <Trait>, <Indomitable Human Spirit>, technically ’resided.’

It was, in essence, the part of his mind directly under the <Trait’s> influence.

...And it wasn’t a pleasant sight.

What appeared before him was a huge swathe of wispy greys and white, creating a pyramid, with Taylor’s greatest wishes encased in eternal amber sitting at the peak.

This was a land permeated with <Fate’s> threads, constructing the ground, the sky, and every giant brick on the massive pyramid.

A three-dimensional tapestry.

’Damn,’

Goosebumps appeared on Aventine’s skin, and a tremor ran up his spine. It felt like a thousand eyes had just gazed upon him then, blinking in and out of the darkness.

’The <Indomitable Human Spirit>...’

He swiftly fled from the depths of Taylor’s consciousness, wary of being bound by the ever-scheming <Fate>.

It was a good thing he did not act upon his intention to gain that <Trait> right away.

’Was it a trap?’

Having this thought, Aventine was almost certain that it was.

The <Indomitable Human Spirit> was a covenant with <Fate> itself. As long as a human never gave up on pursuing their ideals, <Fate> would never allow them to break.

No matter what ideal it was, as long as it was something that <Fate> acknowledged, be it for evil or for good, for order or for chaos—it would be encased in amber that would never fade.

Then, the human would seek those goals for all eternity, aided and guided by <Fate> itself.

’So, the <Indomitable Human Spirit> basically allows <Fate> to create highly controlled variables it could manipulate solely based on their amber-encased convictions.’

Aventine felt adrenaline surging through him.

’How magical! How interesting!’

It made so much sense in hindsight, but he wouldn’t have considered it at all before this singular moment of enlightenment.

<Fate> had almost lured him into an inescapable trap.

’If I had awakened the <Indomitable Human Spirit> here on Fleim... I would be no different from those shackled gods.’

Aventine couldn’t help but chuckle, donning a sardonic smile as he glanced at the recuperating Taylor.

Everything in this world followed <Fate’s> arrangements.

’...I’ll have to strike the <Indomitable Human Spirit> off my list of desirable <Traits>.’

Aventine squinted, feeling uncertain.

’At least, it will be off the list for now...’

Suddenly, his gaze was drawn away from the rampaging Snakespawn. He found himself looking at the churning surface of the pitch-black lake.

"Regroup!" He suddenly yelled out and leapt towards the tunnel in the wall.

** *

Clementine was almost done massacring the surrounding gnomes and taking whatever riches they had accumulated.

’This’ll make for a good few months’ worth of supplies.’ She thought to herself, eyeing the next fleeing gnome, when suddenly she heard Aventine’s voice in her ear.

"Regroup!"

Trusting her excellent scout, she ceased all aggression in an instant and found Aventine leading Taylor towards the thickening smell of blood—into the tunnel in the cavern’s walls.

Clementine felt the guidance of a powerful tailwind beckon her forward. Already familiar with Aventine’s supportive nature from the earlier water currents, she rode the winds and rushed forward.

In the blink of an eye, she found herself standing between the two adventurers and the terrifying trajectory of a giant tentacle. A powerful gale wind was brewing around her arms, seemingly guiding her blade.

Her eyes flashed with understanding. That single tentacle was equal to an A-Rank warrior for sure. With her B-Rank abilities, she had no chance of even severing it.

However, it was worse for Aventine and Taylor—they were still in range of its violence without any way to dodge.

So, Aventine had supplied her with an extra boost, hoping that she could block the tentacle for at least a single moment.

’...Let’s hope that I understood this right.’

[Immovable Fortress].

[Snakebite Counter].

Clementine synchronized her movements with the highly responsive winds. It felt like sentient armor, fuelling every single one of her movements.

For just one strike...

One strike at the level of A-Rank was all she had been given.

’Amazing,’

Feeling a height she had never reached before, Clementine drew her sword back. Her muscles tensed, and her tendons were reinforced by the ambient mana. In the blink of an eye, her rapier struck according to the winds’ guidance.

—BANG!

A tremendous force bombarded her blade, coursing through her hand and nearly fracturing her wrist. Her elbow and shoulder screamed as the threat of dislocation descended upon them in an instant.

But the winds reversed at that very moment, absorbing all that force and transforming it into a gust that sent her flying in Taylor and Aventine’s direction.

As for the tentacle... it had merely been redirected a few degrees to the right, narrowly missing the tunnel entrance as well as their little group of three.

—BOOOM!

Rocks and slate scattered into the air, and the abyssal waters overflowed from the impact of a single A-Rank tentacle. All the surviving Treasure Gnomes were no longer survivors. Gnome blood drenched the dust and debris.

The ground shook, shattered at the point of impact, with cracks snaking far and wide.

Taylor stumbled. His foot had slipped from the sudden fracture of the stones beneath him.

"Shit—!"

Right as his face approached the ground, Clementine came flying over, catching him before his nose was broken.

"Guh!"

Feeling the tremendous tug on his gut, Taylor nearly emptied out whatever bile was left in his stomach. His eyes bulged out of their sockets, and his blood all pooled into his feet and head.

Because of all that force, his body curled into the shape of a shrimp.

Clementine had grabbed him and Aventine by the waist as they flew straight into the dark tunnel.